Essay Sample on Syria: From Peace to War in 9 Years

Introduction

Syria, officially known as the Syrian Arab Republic, is a country found in western Asia. The country borders Turkey, Lebanon, Iraq, the Mediterranean Sea, and Israel. For a long time, the country was peaceful and was home to diverse ethnic and religious groups. The country was also known for its fertile plains, deserts, and high mountains which provides scenic and attractive views for tourists from across the world. However, today, the country is at war. The conflicts in Syria began in March with demonstrations as an effect of the Arab spring which has been common in other Arab countries. The demonstrations were sparked by the discontentedness of the citizens with the sitting government whose tenure was characterized by high unemployment rates, lack of political freedom and corruption. The citizens wanted the sitting president to resign from office. Unfortunately, the demonstrations escalated to an armed conflict after the attempt to remove the president failed (Blandchard, Humud & Nikitin, 2015). The conflict escalated to a multi-sided war involving the supporters of the Syrian president Bashar al-Assad and the domestic and foreign allies opposing his rule.

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The conflicts in Syria led to a breakdown of the key system responsible for the organization of both the economy and society of the country leading to the loss of trust that bound the people together as a republic. The conflict resulted in devastating effects on the social and economic welfare of the country. The country has been at war for about eight years. This civil war in Syria is considered to be the second deadliest in history after the Second Congo war, having claimed the lives of more than five hundred thousand lives and still counting while a greater number of the Syrian population have been left with permanent disabilities (Gill, 2016).

The war involves several factions. Some of the key participants in these wars include the Syrian Armed Forces which are receiving support from its international allies, the Sunni opposition rebel groups, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Salafi jihadist groups, the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL), and various other countries with direct or indirect interests such as Russia, Iran, the United States, Turkey, among others (Phillips, 2015). Russia and Iran have sided with the Syrian Arab Republic as well as the Syrian Armed Forces military aided them in conducting airstrikes and other military operations. The United States, on the other hand, has conducted airstrikes as well as deployed forces majorly against the ISIL.

The major contributor to the unending wars of Syria is its geographical location. The country is located in a region that has been affected by the Arab uprising which has brought about the war that has resulted in significant damage to the country's physical capital stock. The neighboring countries, as well as other countries across the world, have also been affected by the high number of immigrants fleeing Syria as a result of the war. Most of these immigrants who settle in as refugees in foreign countries such as Egypt, Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq, and Jordan come in with the effects of wars such as the physical injuries and thus, often require medical attention that must be taken care of by the host country (Doganay & Demiraslan, 2016).

According to the World Bank report, the number of Syrians who are in need of humanitarian help continues to rise each day. However, the warring parties in the country have made it impossible for the humanitarians to access those in need. Despite the ongoing wars, the victims of the conflicts have continued to suffer due to the limited access to healthcare which is a basic right for every individual in any country across the globe. In order to sabotage the mission of the humanitarians and the well-wishers willing to come to the aid of the war victims, the warring parties have targeted the medical facilities across the country making it difficult to deliver help.

In addition to the humanitarian crisis, the country has lost its rich cultural heritage. The six UNESCO heritage sites that once offered a destination to thousands of tourists across the world have been significantly damaged (Casana & Laugier, 2017). The damage of these heritage sites is a loss to the world and the prosperity of the country. Culture is vital for identification in human societies which gives individuals a sense of belonging while passing down the knowledge, art, beliefs, customs, laws, habits, and capabilities. The country's loss of culture through the conflicts seems irredeemable as it looks like the war in Syria is not ending any time soon. As it stands, the conflict has destroyed about 93% of the country's housing stocks in the conflict areas. Regions such as Aleppo province which also doubles up as one of the opposition strongholds are yet to be affected. Aleppo province holds an estimated population of 2.9 million Syrian citizens most of whom are small children. These individuals are internally displaced, without parents and compete for the scarce resources in the camps making them vulnerable.

References

Blandchard, C. M., Humud, C. E., & Nikitin, M. B. D. (2015). Armed conflict in Syria: Overview and US response (No. CRS-RL33487). Congressional Research Service Washington.

Casana, J., & Laugier, E. J. (2017). Satellite imagery-based monitoring of archaeological site damage in the Syrian civil war. PloS one, 12(11), e0188589.

Doganay, M., & Demiraslan, H. (2016). Refugees of the Syrian civil war: impact on reemerging infections, health services, and biosecurity in Turkey. Health security, 14(4), 220-225.

Gill, T. D. (2016). Classifying the conflict in Syria. International Law Studies, 92(1), 11.

Phillips, C. (2015). Sectarianism and conflict in Syria. Third World Quarterly, 36(2), 357-376.